Process of treating, molding, and casting metals.



W. H. MILLSPAUGH. PROCESS OF TREATING, MOLDING, AND CASTING METALS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 11. I916. 1

Patented Sept. 17, 1918.

E g .1 41A ur 4 WILLIAM H. MILLSPAUGH, on sAnnUsKZ-oHIo, AssIGNoR T sAivniisKY FOUNDRY &

MACHINE COMPANY, or snivnu'sxr ;;oiaro, A conroimmonor 01110; e

Application filed August 1.7, 1916.; Serial-No. 115,366.

To all whom it may concern: Y

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. MILLS- PAUGH, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident'of Sandusky, county of Erie, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Treating, Molding, and (lasting Metals, of which the fol-lowing is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings; forming a part thereof.

My invention relates to the casting of metals, and particularly to such processes as involve the pouring of the molten metal into a rotating mold.

One ob ect of my invention is to provide a relatively simple anl improved process of the aforesaid character by which a superior casting such as is capable of withstanding very high internal pressures and suitable for gun barrels and the like, maybe produced.

Other objects and advantagesof my invention will be set forth hereinafter, and in order that my invention may be thoroughly understood, I will now proceed to describe the same in the followin specification and then point out the nove features thereof in appended claims. Referring to the drawings: i Figure 1 is asectional elevation of one form of apparatus which is adapted for practising my invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig.1.

I am aware that centrifugal casting, that\ is, casting molten metal into rotating molds, is well known, and it has been proposed to interiorly cool the metal by introducing air. This method. is, however, objectionable be-. cause of the fact that the molten metal is oxidized with great rapidity and with the result that the whole interior of the casting is poor and a large amount must be cut away. Furthermore, if a suflicient blast of air is utilized before. the metal is'set, to accomplish any useful cooling, it tends to force,

the molten metal toward one end of the mold, following the direction of the current of air.

According to my present invention, 1 pour the molten metal such as steel, into .a hollow cylindrical rotating mold and permit the metal to cool slightly before proceeding with the subsequent treatment. The next step in the process consists in introducing water in the form of spray or steam for the pur- PROCESS OF TREATING, OLDING, AND- CASTING mn'rsns.

pose "of chilling the interior surface and forming a crust. Finally, the introduction of wateris discontinued and a powerful blast of air directed through the hollow cast ng in process offormation. This blast of a1r is continued until the casting is com pletely cooled and set.

In the drawings which illustrate suitable apparatus for performing the' process as outmined by an end plate 19 which is secured to the flange 11 by bolts 20, or otherwise affixed to the mold. I v

A pulley 21 is bolted to the .flange 12 at the opposite end of the'mold and constitutes a suitable means by whichthe machine may be driven. Instead of belting the machine e d se t. It, was.

however, it may be connected to a driving I shaft by gears or in any suitable way.

A tube or pipe 22 is supported on a stationary bracket 23 and is adapted to be adjusted to extend through the mold' and into a guide bracket .24 at the opposite end, as

shown in broken lines in Fig. 1. The guide bracket may be swung out of the way when not in use, as shown 1n full lines in Fig. 1. The pipe 22 is provided with perforations 25 and is connected by a flexible hose or pipe 26 to any suitable source of water or other non-oxidizing cooling fluid. In addition to the liquid cooling pipe ordistributer, an air pipe-27 is provided, conveniently at the same end of the mold. This pipe is pivoted at 28 so that it may be swung to one side when not in use and not interfere with the water plpe.

29 designates a pouring funnel or spout mounted on a truck 30 which is adapted to extend through an opening 33 in the end plate 19 and hence is adapted to dischar e the molten metal, which it carries, into t e mold. a

be understood from the .Between the stop plate 18 andtheend the cooling process.

foregoing and may be described with refer- I once to the apparatus as follows :'The mold is first rotated by connecting a suitable driving shaft (not shown) to the pulley 21.

The molten metal is next introduced by mov ing the spout 29 into the positlo'n shown in- Y Fig. 1 Y and'pouring molten metal therein which is discharged therefrom into the mold.

The metal will, on account of the centrifugal action due to the rotation of the mold, conform to the inner surface of the mold of whatever. shape it may be and assume a cylindrical interior curvature.

After a predeterminedlapse of time Sufi- .cient to permit the casting to cool slightly, the pipe 22 is moved from the position shown 3 in full lines to the osition shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and water, steam or other non-oxidized fluid is discharged from, the perforations 25, into the mold. The effect of cooling fiuid discharged inthis manner is to chill 'the metaland form a crust on the surface. This crust prevents the oxidization of the surface during the last step of the process which is accomplished by withdrawing the pipe 22, swinging the pipe 27 to the position shown in full lines, and turning on a blastof air which will rush through the center of the mold and carry out at the opposite end, the hot gases, etc., and continue The airblast is maintained until the casting is completed when the mold is stopped and the casting removed.

The process "of my present invention is commercially practicable and constitutes the solution of a well known problem which hitherto-has been approached in 'various' ways without success. Castings by my proc-f ess-may be produced readily, which are particularly-adapted for pipes, gun barrels, and

such other structures as are called upon to mold to chill the exposed inner surface of v the metal, and introducing a blast of cooling a1r. r

2. The process of treating metal which consists in pouring the molten metal into a rapidly rotating mold and subjecting it to the action of centrifugal force, then intro= ducin'g a cooling liquid into the interior of the mold to chill the exposed inner surface of the metal,'and finally introducing a blast of cooling air until the casting is com leted.

3. The process of casting steel whic consists in pouring the molten metal into a rapidly rotating mold and subjecting it to the action of centrifugal force, allowing it to cool slightly, then spraying the interior exposed surface of the casting with water to form'a crust, and finally blowing cooling air through the hollow castin from end to end. ave hereunto set In witness whereof, I my hand this 14th day ofAugust, 1916. WILLIAM H, MILLSPAUGH. Y 

